Laowai

Just today it feels chilly enough for a sweater. It feels nice.

I made granola earlier this week. When I'm feeling frazzled a bit of baking makes me feel better. Especially when the baking smells so good.

I finished some more window work this week. I gave three upstairs window jambs and sils a fresh coat of paint. This type of work always takes longer than I think it will. Maybe it drags out because of all the drying time after each coat of paint. Anyway, I'm glad to have it done before winter.

Cider season! Yay!

Another yay! moment: we got to see Jennifer and Jenna and Mom for a couple days. They took a quick trip to our neck of the woods for visiting colleges. For some reason – we couldn't help ourselves – we started playing Monopoly even though it was late and everyone was super tired. 

They made a visit to Purdue and were surprised to find Dad's name on a plaque.

I had my regular visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden. I swooned over all the asters.

The vegetable garden was still looking fresh.

These asters are already done with their color show.

This is my summer sweater. Hmmmm. I've ripped it out so many times and I even switched patterns but I think this version will finally work out. Crossed fingers.

Here's Claire in her happy place (Target). We bought candy for the trick or treaters.

Also this week – I swapped two beloved birds. I found this one years ago at a second hand shop in Zurich. It's always hung in our bedroom. 

Last Spring when Brian and I took a trip to Italy to celebrate our 20th anniversary I bought this little terra cotta swallow in. I thought I would hang that bird in my dining room, but I couldn't quite find the right spot. 

And then I realized that the two pictures in our bedroom where the first bird always hung are from our honeymoon. So the terra cotta bird from our anniversary trip should be there. Duh. Why didn't it occur to me before? 

Sort of wish the swallow was flying the other direction but oh well. I'm not going to make more holes in the wall. Now I just need to hang the first bird up – I love how it looks agains the green walls.